Three football players at Vanderbilt University have been suspended indefinitely after reportedly taking the law into their own hands, attempting to recover a stolen cell phone.
The students have been identified as freshmen O’Montae Daley and Frank Coppet, both age 18, and 19-year-old sophomore Donaven Tennyson.
Vanderbilt released a short statement to announce the suspensions.
“Vanderbilt Football Coach Derek Mason has indefinitely suspended the three student athletes reportedly involved in the June 26 shooting incident at a Nashville Target from all football activities.”
Tennyson had put his phone up for sale online. After a prospective buyer expressed interest, the two agreed to meet around 5 p.m. Monday at the parking lot of the Chili's restaurant on West End Avenue.
He told police his phone was stolen during the encounter.
Later in the evening, Tennyson believed he say his phone for sale online. The teens told police they created a fake account and offered to buy the phone. After an agreement was made, the two parties arranged to meet in the Target store parking lot.
Tennyson, Daley and Coppet then drove to the meeting location.
Officials with the Metro Nashville Police Department said one of them took a pellet pistol.
Coppet reportedly brandished it when the suspects arrived. That was when one suspect got out of the car with a handgun and started firing. The driver also revealed a shotgun and fired.
Daley was shot in the leg. Coppet had birdshot wounds to his arms. Both teens were expected to recover from their injuries.
The suspects allegedly stole Daley's Toyota Corrola. It was later found Tuesday, and believed to have been used in a series of robberies.
